Amritapuri Comes Back To Life
Amma finally returned from Australia after a long wait. The faces of the ashramites had been turning slightly sad as life in Amritapuri is just not the same without her. There hadn’t even been any webcasts from the last Devi Bhavas, so the contrast was even more evident when Amma lit the hearts and faces of everyone again. Don’t get me wrong, the time in the ashram when Amma is not here is well spent in seva, scriptural study and meditation, but the truth is, one can do these anywhere at any given time, whereas being in Amma’s presence is absolutely unique. Personally I had been doing fasting, chanting, seva etc., but there was some feeling of stagnancy within nevertheless. A feeling of futility persisted and I clearly felt that one can do spiritual practices, yet if grace is missing it all amounts to nothing or almost nothing. Of course it all somehow makes one more open to the possibility of grace, but grace alone determines the fruit. Once the presence of divine grace enters the heart, everything falls into place and the inner tamas is dispelled. And that is what happened the moment Amma came back.
Bhajans on the first night were especially blissful, as they usually are after a long break. Amma sang the following bhajans:
Daya Karo Ganesha
New Song
Jivitamennum
Virahatti Patarunnen
Vilvattal Arccittom
Uyiray Oliyay
Mata Bhavani
Today Amma is already giving public darshan despite having just returned from such a long tour.
Vishwanath